Cleveland doctor arrested for second time this year

Published 4:25 pm, Monday, May 23, 2016

The legal woes of a Cleveland-based orthopedist, Dr. David Howie, just got a little worse.

Howie, who is already facing criminal charges in San Jacinto County following his arrest in March, was arrested May 21 by Cleveland Police Department. The incident that led to his arrest began around 10 a.m. when Officer Geoffrey Silva was dispatched to N. Washington regarding a person making threats.

When Silva arrived, he saw a black four-door Honda car leaving the scene. An employee of a business at that location advised Silva that the male inside the Honda had pointed a gun at employees.

Silva pursued the Honda and conducted a traffic stop at the 100 block of Belcher St. The vehicle was occupied by one male, identified as Howie, 56.

“The male held his hands in the air and continuously looked toward the front of the car as Officer Silva attempted to speak with the male,” said Capt. Scott Felts in an emailed statement. “Officer Silva ordered the male out of the vehicle, but the male was unresponsive to Officer Silva’s commands. Officer Silva detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the male’s breath when attempting to speak with him.”

Silva reportedly observed a chrome-colored handgun lying in the seat next to Howie. He then walked to the other side of the vehicle and removed the handgun, which was in reaching distance of Howie.

Sgt. Sergio Lopez arrived to assist Silva with removing Howie from his vehicle.

“Both officers had to physically remove the male due to his not cooperating with verbal commands,” Felts said.

Inside Howie’s vehicle, officers also found four other handguns and two assault rifles.

Howie was arrested on one count of Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon, a second-degree felony, and Unlawful Carry of a Firearm, a Class A misdemeanor.

Howie’s right to carry a firearm was reportedly suspended due to the pending charges out of San Jacinto County.

In the March 19 incident, Howie reportedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will at his home on Bullock Lane in Shepherd, Texas. When she attempted to escape, he allegedly fired a gun at her and her vehicle.

He is facing Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon and Deadly Conduct charges for that March 19 incident.

The Texas Medical Board, on April 22, temporarily suspended the 56-year-old doctor’s license pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. With the new charges so recent, the medical board has not had adequate time to issue further sanctions.